Low fat foods stuffed with 'harmful’ levels of sugar

Telegraph analysis finds many food and drink products marketed as "low fat"
contain sugar levels which some leading campaigners and scientists warn are
too high. Hover over the bars in the charts to see products or search
for a specific product with the table view

Many low fat foods promoted as healthy-eating options contain more sugar than their “full fat” equivalents - in some cases more than five times as much, an analysis by The Telegraph shows.

Scores of the most popular cereals, yoghurts, snacks and ready meals marketed at people wanting to eat a low fat diet contain levels of sugar which leading campaigners and scientists now warn are too high.

The disclosures come after the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that the daily allowance for a person’s intake of added sugar should be halved to six teaspoons to help avoid mounting health problems including obesity and tooth decay.

A study of 100 popular low or non-fat grocery items from major supermarkets found that dozens contained at least two teaspoons of total sugar in a single serving. One in four of the products contained more than three teaspoons of the ingredient.

While some of the sugar is naturally occurring, much is added - according to campaigners - simply to improve taste.

Experts said the Telegraph’s findings showed how “low fat” and “low calorie” products could often have more harmful effects on health than their “full fat” equivalents. They believe high levels of sugar are contributing not just to rising levels of obesity, but also other health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, dental cavities and cancer.

The analysis also sparked calls for changes to guidelines on the amount of sugar which can be added to food in Britain, as well as clearer labelling on products, to avoid shoppers being “misled” by items billed as healthy alternatives to products containing normal levels of fat.

The research found:

- One “low fat” meal contained almost six times the sugar levels of its “full fat” equivalent dish

- A “fat-free” drinking yoghurt was found to contain almost as much sugar as a Mars Bar

- A single portion of a “healthy living” apple and blackberry crumble contained five-and-a-half teaspoons of sugar

- A one litre carton of a “low fat” chocolate milk drink contained more than 30 teaspoons of sugar, around two thirds of which is estimated to be added

Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and science director of Action on Sugar, a campaign group, said the findings showed some low fat foods were “loaded with sugar” despite purporting to be healthy. He suggested manufacturers added to the risk of chronic diseases by “misleading” shoppers over the ingredients of such products.

“There is mounting evidence of sugar’s detrimental effect on health independent of calories with a recent study revealing excess consumption trebling the risk of heart disease even in the non obese," he said.

“The Government has a duty and responsibility to protect its citizens from the manipulations and excesses of the food industry who are only interested in profit, not health.

“The responsibility deal that allows food giants to have a say in health policy has failed. It's time for it to be scrapped.”

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum and chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, a children’s charity said: “Although we are told by industry that sugar should not be demonised it is totally unnecessary in the volumes in which it is added.”

Ian Marber, a nutritionist, added: “Anyone who thinks eating low fat food is taking a healthy option is mistaken. There are phrases like ‘low fat’ which scream health and that have been a happy distraction which the food industry have not seen any reason to change.”

Campaigners claim volumes of sugar in food have soared in recent years amid a focus on reducing levels of fat, which has traditionally been blamed for dietary-related diseases. They say that low fat products contain sugar as a substitute for fat, in order to compensate for the loss of taste.

The industry denies claims over the effect of sugar on health, saying the “balance of evidence” exonerated the substance from contributing to “lifestyle diseases”. Manufacturers insist they only include the ingredient in low fat foods where recipes required it, adding that many products contain naturally occurring sugar.

The WHO published new proposals on Wednesday which retained its current formal recommendation that no more than 10 per cent of an individual’s daily calories should come from added sugar – the equivalent of 12 “level” teaspoons for the average adult.

However, its proposed guidelines state that a further reduction to 5 per cent - around six teaspoons - “would have additional benefits”.

The limits apply to “free” sugar, which is any sugar that is added to foods by the manufacturer, plus that naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruit juices. It does not include sugar naturally present in milk or whole fruit and vegetables.

The WHO’s announcement came after its experts considered a report by scientists at Newcastle University which said the lower threshold is needed to reduce tooth decay.

Paula Moynihan, professor of nutrition at the university, who led the study, said: “There is a need for clearer labelling of the amount of sugars that are added to foods and drinks.

"A healthy balanced diet, with plenty fruits and vegetables and few sugary foods and drinks needn’t contain more than 5 per cent of calories as free sugars"

Campaigners want the new advice to be adopted in Britain, where NHS guidance is currently in line with the WHO’s existing recommendations. They also want food labels to state how much of the total sugar in individual products is “free” sugar.

Of those analysed, almost half had two or more level teaspoons of sugar, while 26 contained three or more.

In 20 cases, we compared items with equivalent “full fat” products. Of those, nine contained more sugar than the “full fat” items. These included a Tesco sausage and root mash ready meal with six grams of sugar - more than five times the supermarket’s equivalent product in its regular, “everyday” range.

The products with the highest levels were a Waitrose “love life” chocolate sponge pudding and a Marks & Spencer blueberry drinking yoghurt, which both contained 6.5 teaspoons of sugar.

Sugar contained naturally in milk accounts for around around 60 per cent of the total sugar of 16g in a 125g pot of Tesco low fat strawberry yogurt, with the remaining 40 per cent coming from added sugar, according to estimates by nutritionists.

Spokesmen for Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose said their products were labelled clearly, to allow customers to make informed choices. The Tesco spokesman added of its crumble dessert: “It is not a low sugar product, nor is it branded as such.”

The Sainsbury’s spokesman said only two of the six products in the survey contained “added” sugar.

Barbara Gallani, director of regulatory science and health at the Food and Drink Federation, an industry body, said: “Where sugars are included in products, the different sources are clearly labelled in the ingredients list and the amount of total sugars is provided in the nutrition table.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “Helping people eat fewer calories, including sugar, is a key part of the Responsibility Deal and our efforts to reduce obesity. The food industry has also agreed to a consistent front of pack food label which will help people keep track of what they’re eating and make healthier choices.”